ChildCare Centres, Kindergartens And Other Pre-School Institutions Will Reopen On Monday, 16 Oct 00

12 Oct 2000

JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT,

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SPORTS

and MINISTRY OF EDUCATION:

All childcare centres, kindergartens, enrichment centres, play groups, special schools, foreign system schools and learning centres which cater to children five and below will reopen on Monday, 16 Oct, 00.

However, all wading pools in schools, public swimming pools and condominiums, and play areas in shopping centres, fast food areas, etc, where children gather, will remain closed till further notice from the Hand Foot and Mouth (HFMD) Taskforce.

Over the next two days, the Ministry of Community Development and Sports and the Ministry of Education will be instructing all operators of childcare centres, kindergartens, enrichment centres, special schools, foreign system schools and learning centres to do the following:

• Screen all children attending the centre to see if they are unwell.

• Isolate immediately any child found to be unwell, or exhibiting symptoms of HFMD, at the sick bay.

• Notify immediately the child's parents and the Quarantine and Epidemiology Department at the Ministry of Environment, either via Tel 7319181 or Fax 7348287, 7319368 when a child is found to be unwell.

• Continue to clean and disinfect daily, the premises and the toys the children play with.

Officials from the ministries of the Environment, Education and Community Development and Sports will make checks to ensure that all the institutions comply strictly with these instructions.

Advisory to Parents

The Taskforce advises all parents to continue to be vigilant and to monitor their children closely for any signs of illness. They are advised to take note of the following:

• Keep their children at home if they are unwell, or if they suspect that they could be unwell.

• Refrain from taking their children to crowded places

• Consult a doctor if their children have any of the following symptoms - fever lasting 2-3 days, sore throat and runny nose, mouth ulcers, rash (usually blister-like) over hands, feet and diaper areas, vomiting and diarrhoea, tiredness and weakness.

• Be alert to any change in their child's behaviour - refusal to eat or drink, persistent vomiting and drowsiness and if these are present to bring the child to the A&E Departments of KKH or NUH immediately.

• Observe good personal hygiene at home at all times.

The Taskforce seeks the understanding of all parents as the continued success of breaking the transmission of the disease is dependant on one critical factor - the cooperation of parents in keeping their children at home if they are sick, or if they suspect them to be ill.

The Taskforce will continue to monitor the situation closely. We would like to alert parents and providers of services catering to children aged five and below that should there be a recurrence of HFMD transmission, the Taskforce will reintroduce all necessary measures.

All doctors are reminded to continue notifying immediately all cases of HFMD by fax, phone or email to:

The Commissioner of Public Health

Fax: 7348287, 7319368

Tel: 7319181, 7319359, 7319761

Email: CHOW_chui_yin@env.gov.sg